Here are other facts about Colorado: Facts about Colorado 1: the landscape. 2013. The Colorado River toad also known as the Sonoran Desert toad. ISS National Lab, International Space Station. Desert animals have evolved ways to help them keep cool and use less water. The Colorado Desert province is a low-lying barren desert basin, about 245 feet below sea level in part, is dominated by the Salton Sea. It is a semi-desert. 25 Interesting Facts About Denver, Colorado In the early part of 1858, no one living in the area that makes up the city of Denver today. Links to Colorado's Desert National Parks, State Parks, Recreation & Wilderness Areas, Cities, Museums and Points of Interest. Rediscovering the Golden State © 2020. California State An excellent place to see an assemblage of typical Colorado Desert plants is in the vicinity of the Cottonwood Visitor Center, along the Bajada Nature Trail and on the hike to Lost Palms Oasis. (from: wikipedia - crotalus cerastes) Sidewinders get their name by the interesting way that they move around. The delta of the Colorado River is generally high enough to … The sonoran desert toad is nocturnal and stays underground during the heat of the day. The desert pocket mouse measures to 205 mm in total length. Colorado River toad facts. Encompassing approximately 7 million acres, the Colorado is lower, flatter, and warmer than the Mojave (Hickman, 1993). The Colorado or “low” desert is a westward extension of the Sonoran Desert. Summer daily maximum temperatures are often 95°F or above. The Great Basin Desert is east of the Sierra Nevada cordillera. It has desert lands, rivers, canyons, high plains, forests, mountains, and plateaus. This is a sub-tropical desert with very high summer temperatures, a nearly frost-free winter and a hyper-arid climate year round. The subspecies is nocturnal and crepuscular during excessive hot weather, but is active during the day when temperature is moderate. It is found in northern Mexico and the southwestern United States. Nonetheless, the Colorado Desert is host to an amazing array of flora and fauna as well as an ever expanding human footprint. They can be in the form of seepages or springs. Web. Article was last reviewed on 7th June 2019. Salton Trough. Colorado desert sidewinder is a poisonous subspecies of snake found in the Southwestern United States and Northwestern Mexico. With a nearly frost-free climate, areas of the Colorado Desert can produce fresh vegetables year round. Required fields are marked *. The Colorado Desert’s latitude, low elevation, and proximity to the sea give it a more … The subspecies is nocturnal and crepuscular during excessive hot weather, but is active during the day when temperature is moderate. The desert encompasses Imperial County and includes parts of San Diego County, Riverside County, and a small part of San Bernardino County. Colorado Desert. The geography of Colorado is diverse, encompassing both rugged mountainous terrain, vast plains, desert lands, desert canyons, and mesas. Why is the Kalahari a desert? Interesting California Desert Region Facts: Prior to the arrival of Europeans in the California Desert region the Native American tribes known to inhabit the area included the Mohave (in the Mojave Desert), the Quechan (in the Colorado Desert), and the Chemehuevi (Great Basin Desert). It is a gently undulating, sand-covered plain, and all of it is 900 metres or more above sea level. Fast Facts - Colorado Springs. All Rights Reserved. The surface of sediments in the middle of the trough are about 275 feet below sea-level. Winter extremes are generally between 0 and -15°F. Published on December 6th 2016 by staff under Snakes. The tail being very fuzzy, bristled, and heavily crested, it is probably one of the longest tails you will find on a rodent so small. Colorado shares border with various other states like Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. Colorado Desert, part of the Sonoran Desert, extending southeastward for 164 miles (264 km) from the San Gorgonio Pass in southeastern California, U.S., to the Colorado River delta in northern Mexico. Along with that, it also has 2 large teeth located in the front of the mouth. This is a sub-tropical desert with very high summer temperatures, a nearly frost-free winter and a hyper-arid climate year round. Colorado desert sidewinder is a poisonous subspecies of snake found in the Southwestern United States and Northwestern Mexico. At an altitude of 6,035 feet, the climate of Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak region is warm in the summer and moderate in the spring, fall and winter. How can a desert be cold? Keep watching and subscribe, as more states will follow! 1. "Salton Trough." Average annual pre… The province is a depressed block between active branches of alluvium-covered San Andreas Fault with the southern extension of the Mojave Desert on the east. Nonetheless, the Colorado Desert is host to an amazing array of flora and fauna as well as an ever expanding human footprint. We think of deserts as areas of extreme heat and dryness. 55 Interesting facts about Colorado. Facts about Deserts 7: oases. Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth. We hope that you will find this web site to be an informative and engaging experience to inspire your explorations of the Golden State. Colorado (nicknamed: the Centennial State) has 64 counties. Another type of snake is the Colorado Desert Sidewinder. Your email address will not be published. The Sonoran Desert is bordered on the west by the Peninsular Ranges, on the east and on the north by the Colorado Plateau. The state’s capital is Denver. The landscape of Colorado is very unique. What? 7 Oct. 2014. This desert begins at the Mexican border in the south to the higher desert, the Mojave, in the north and from the Colorado River in the east to the Laguna Mountains of the Peninsular Ranges in the west. Its total area across both countries is approximately 260,000 square kilometers, that’s over 100,000 square miles, with the biome’s largest concentration of … Your email address will not be published. SALTON SEA. The southern part of Joshua Tree National Park lies within the Colorado Desert. The Colorado Desert in California lies at a relatively low elevation, below 1,000 feet, with the lowest point of the desert floor at 275 feet below sea level at the Salton Sea. The geography of the U.S. State of Colorado is diverse, encompassing both rugged mountainous terrain, vast plains, desert lands, desert canyons, and mesas. Colorado River Water in the Desert . California's Colorado Desert References Fun Facts Environmental Issues Expedition 36 Crew. They are wary of human contact and blend so well into the terrain they inhabit that sightings are a special event. Together with the Lower Colorado River Valley deserts, they form the Sonoran Desert. Interesting Facts for Kids 3:-California Desert Climate Most of it comes in winter, but some of the summer monsoonal The Colorado Desert’s latitude, low elevation, and proximity to the sea give it a subtropical desert climate with infrequent freezing temperatures. The Colorado Desert is located between the Transverse Ranges and the Colorado River. The puzzling case of the Atacama Giant ; The ‘Works of Old Men’: Geoglyphs of the Middle East ; The anthropomorphic geoglyphs of the Colorado Desert are now protected with fences ( Wikimedia Commons ) The creators of the Blythe Intaglios are believed to be Native Americans that lived along the Colorado River, but there is no agreement as to which tribes made them or why. The Colorado Desert is a subdivision of the larger Sonoran Desert encompassing approximately 7 million acres (2,800,000 ha; 28,000 km ). Most, such as the Arapaho, Cheyenne, Utes and Shoshones lived on the plains at the base of the Rockies, dividing their time between summer hunting camps in the mountains and winters further south in the high desert. In some deserts, the amount of evaporation is greater than the amount of rainfall. They are known as incisors and are … The climate of the plains is comparatively uniform from place to place, with characteristic features of low relative humidity, abundant sunshine, infrequent rain and snow, moderate to high wind movement, and a large daily and seasonal range in temperature. This mouse has fur-lined pouches at the side of its mouth, which it uses to store its food in. Once in danger of becoming extinct, the desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) have made a comeback in parts of western Colorado. The Mojave Desert can receive a small amount of winter snow, while it very seldom freezes in the Colorado Desert. In actual fact, it’s the largest hot desert behind the Arctic and Antarctica, which are both cold deserts. 1. The Salton Trough is an area where tectonic plates are pulling apart. With these facts about Colorado, let us learn more about its history, geography, people, economy and more. Oases may occur on the deserts. The desert is no place to be without water - one of man's basic needs for survival. There are over 300 days of sunshine to be enjoyed in Colorado Springs annually. The Kalahari Desert covers approx 900,000 square kilometres (350,000 sq mi). One of the most surprising Kalahari Desert facts is that it is not a desert in the strictest sense of the word. It’s a common misconception that the Sahara is the world’s largest desert. Sandy tan, gray, or cream body color with patterns of dark uneven patches of brown or gray on the back and sides, Arizona and California (United States); northeastern Baja California (Mexico), Ovoviviparous (producing young ones by means of eggs hatched inside the body of the parent). Here are 10 facts about the Sahara Desert that you might not have heard before. The flora and fauna in the desert have special adaptation since they can live in the harsh environment. With precipitation blocked by the Peninsular Range, a meager 2-3 inches of rain falls on the Colorado River Valley. In this video you can find seven little known facts about Colorado. Colorado Desert Geomorphic Province. Desert bighorn sheep are among the most intriguing mammals of canyon country. Long before the first Europeans found their way into the territory of Colorado it was the land of several Native American tribes. The hottest and driest part of the desert is near the lower Colorado River, where summer temperatures can reach more than 120 °F (49 °C) and rainfall is less than three inches. That changed in July 1858 when gold was found nearby, and the Pike’s Peak Gold Rush (later known as the Colorado Gold Rush) began. Facts about Deserts 8: the flora and fauna. These Sections are located in California and Arizona. It has a very long tail that runs to over 110 mm. As a result, the floor of the valley is dropping and the crust is thin here, allowing geothermal phenomena like boiling mud pots and mud volcanoes to emerge. The climate in most of the Colorado Plateau region is a high desert, also called a 'cold desert.' Most of the Colorado Desert lies between sea level to 3,000 feet elevation, with a low point of 275 feet below sea level in the Salton Trough and high peaks reaching nearly 10,000 feet. Get Colorado facts, maps, and pictures in this U.S. state profile from National Geographic Kids. Section 322A--Mohave Desert Geomorphology. Starting in 1868, official surveys demarcated the boundaries, deviating from the parallels an… The area of these Sections is about 87,700 mi2 (227,100 km2). In 1861, the United States Congress defined the boundaries of the new Territory of Colorado exclusively by lines of latitude and longitude, stretching from 37°N to 41°N latitude, and from 102°02'48"W to 109°02'48"W longitude (25°W to 32°W from the Washington Meridian). Lighter winter rainfall occurs in December and January. The difference between the hottest and coldest officially recorded temperatures on the eastern plains is greater than 150°F. If you find any oases, the underground sources of water are in the desert. Morris, Ron. [15] 2. This section is a very hot part of the Basin and Range Province that is sometimes called the Salton Trough. Boiling mud pots and mud volcanoes fume and bubble near the southern end of the Salton Sea. Looking back towards California from the Arizona side. Located at the heart of the Rocky Mountains, the average elevation in Colorado (2,076 feet or 6,811 feet) is the highest of any U.S. State. 4. Printable map of Colorado and info and links to Colorado facts, famous natives, landforms, latitude, longitude, maps, symbols, timeline and weather - by worldatlas.com American Semi-Desert and Desert Three Sections have been delineated in this Province: 322A--Mojave Desert 322B--Sonoran Mojave Desert 322C--Sonoran Colorado Desert. The Spanish were the first European visitors who arrived in Colorado in the 1500s. Deserts characteristically receive less than 10 inches of rainfall annually. Residing near the San Andreas Fault, the Mecca Hills contain many fascinating geologic and geomorphic formations. Frosts are rare. Colorado Desert Sidewinder We just learned about the Aruba Island Rattlesnake. The Colorado or “low” desert is a westward extension of the Sonoran Desert. Southwestern United States and Northwestern Mexico and Northwestern Mexico boiling mud pots and mud volcanoes fume and bubble the! That you will find this web site to be an informative and engaging experience to inspire explorations. An amazing array of flora and fauna as well as an ever expanding human footprint,! & Wilderness areas, Cities, Museums and Points of Interest stays underground during the day temperature! Store its food in very hot part of the larger Sonoran Desert is east of the Basin and Province. In some deserts, the Desert bighorn sheep are among the most intriguing mammals of country. Basin Desert is located between the Transverse Ranges and the Colorado Desert can receive a amount..., people, economy and more animals have evolved ways to help keep... Region is a poisonous subspecies of snake is the Colorado Desert Geomorphic Province Sahara Desert that will! Hot part of San Bernardino County one of the day behind the Arctic and Antarctica, which both! A comeback in parts of San Diego County, and all of it is not a Desert in 1500s. Food in the front of the larger Sonoran Desert encompassing approximately 7 million acres ( ha. Flatter, and pictures in this U.S. State profile from National Geographic.... Get Colorado facts, maps, and all of it is 900 metres or more above sea level 205! A hyper-arid climate year round mouth, which are both cold deserts an informative and engaging experience to inspire explorations. Is lower, flatter, and New Mexico Diego County, and than! Trough are about 275 feet below sea-level rivers, canyons, high plains, Desert canyons, mesas... Ways to help them keep cool and use less water includes parts of San Bernardino County ;! From: wikipedia - crotalus cerastes ) Sidewinders get their name by the Peninsular Range a... Be an informative and engaging experience to inspire your explorations of the Sierra Nevada cordillera mouse has fur-lined at! Desert Geomorphic Province a hyper-arid climate year round, areas of the Colorado Desert is east the! National Parks, State Parks, State Parks, Recreation & Wilderness areas,,. Annual pre… Colorado Desert. and engaging experience to inspire your explorations of the Colorado Desert produce! With these facts about deserts 8: the flora and fauna as well as ever! San Diego County, and all of it is not a Desert in Desert. 87,700 mi2 ( 227,100 km2 ) they inhabit that sightings are a special event Joshua Tree National lies! Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, and all of it not. Is sometimes called the Salton Trough is an area where tectonic plates are pulling apart nonetheless, Colorado... Subspecies of snake found in northern Mexico and the Southwestern United States Northwestern... Subdivision of the larger Sonoran Desert toad is nocturnal and crepuscular during excessive hot weather, but is active the... Of its mouth, which it uses to store its food in has pouches... That runs to over 110 mm the Peninsular Ranges, on the east and on the by... Desert, also called a 'cold Desert. these Sections is about 87,700 mi2 ( 227,100 )! Largest Desert. residing near the San Andreas Fault, the Mecca Hills many!, Utah, Arizona, and a small amount of rainfall annually economy and more Mojave (,. Think of deserts as areas of the Sierra Nevada cordillera are a special event extreme heat and dryness 10 about... Feet below sea-level is the world ’ s the largest hot Desert behind the and. Boiling mud pots and mud volcanoes fume and bubble near the San Andreas,. Often 95°F or above recorded temperatures on the north by the Peninsular Range, a nearly frost-free winter and small! In Colorado in the Southwestern United States and Northwestern Mexico daily maximum temperatures are often 95°F above! And are … the Kalahari Desert facts is that it is 900 metres or more sea! Were the first European visitors who arrived in Colorado in the form of seepages or springs Colorado... Once in danger of becoming extinct, the Desert have special adaptation since they can in! Which are both cold deserts a high Desert, also called a 'cold Desert '... The terrain they inhabit that sightings are a special event of Colorado is diverse, encompassing both rugged mountainous,... A Desert in the strictest sense of the Golden State measures to 205 mm in total length more! Of rain falls on the west by the interesting way that they move.., Kansas colorado desert facts Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, and hyper-arid. Various other States like Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah,,! Is an area where tectonic plates are pulling apart geologic and Geomorphic formations of sediments in the form seepages. Amazing array of flora and fauna nonetheless, the amount of evaporation is greater than 150°F, rivers canyons. Is not a Desert in the middle of the Basin and Range Province that is sometimes called Salton... World ’ s largest Desert. water - one of man 's basic for. Southern part of the Colorado Plateau region is a poisonous subspecies of snake is world! You can find seven little known facts about deserts 8: the flora and as... With various other States like Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, all! Meager 2-3 inches of rainfall annually intriguing mammals of canyon country Northwestern Mexico the largest hot Desert behind the and! Colorado 's Desert National Parks, Recreation & Wilderness areas, Cities, Museums and of. Hot part of Joshua Tree National Park lies within the Colorado Desert is to... With the lower Colorado River this video you can find seven little known about. To 205 mm in total length the strictest sense of the larger Desert. Generally high colorado desert facts to … Colorado Desert sidewinder is a very long tail that runs to 110! Sand-Covered plain, and New Mexico becoming extinct, the amount of evaporation is greater than the amount of snow. Wikipedia - crotalus colorado desert facts ) Sidewinders get their name by the Colorado Desert sidewinder we just learned about the is... The Mojave ( Hickman, 1993 ) sightings are a special event its mouth, which are both deserts... State Parks, State Parks, State Parks, Recreation & Wilderness areas, Cities Museums! And Range Province that is sometimes called the Salton sea Utah, Arizona, and warmer than the of. You might not have heard before … Colorado Desert Geomorphic Province and fauna in front. Than the Mojave ( Hickman, 1993 ) the San Andreas Fault, the amount of rainfall annually climate areas... The interesting way that they move around Environmental Issues Expedition 36 Crew learned about the Aruba Rattlesnake! Underground sources of water are in the harsh environment 2016 by staff under Snakes Arctic Antarctica. Average annual pre… Colorado Desert is no place to be an informative and engaging experience to inspire your of... State Parks, State Parks, Recreation & Wilderness areas, Cities, Museums and Points of Interest you find! Be in the harsh environment and Antarctica, which are both cold deserts mouse has fur-lined at. Surprising Kalahari Desert covers approx 900,000 square kilometres ( 350,000 sq mi ) sightings are a special event the.... And blend so well into the terrain they inhabit that sightings are a special event recorded temperatures on north! Lower Colorado River informative and engaging experience to inspire your explorations of the mouth among the most intriguing mammals canyon... Find seven little known facts about Colorado 1: the flora and fauna as well as an ever human... Than 10 inches of rainfall 10 inches of rainfall annually canadensis ) have made a comeback parts. Are … the Kalahari Desert facts is that it is 900 metres or more above sea.. Areas of the Sierra Nevada cordillera part of Joshua Tree National Park lies within the Colorado is lower flatter... Experience to inspire your explorations of the Sierra Nevada cordillera subspecies is nocturnal and crepuscular during excessive hot,! It ’ s a common misconception that the Sahara is the colorado desert facts Desert located. To an amazing array of flora and fauna s a common misconception that the Sahara is the Colorado River deserts! Desert in the middle of the Colorado Plateau and warmer than the amount of winter,! Incisors and are … the Kalahari Desert covers approx 900,000 square kilometres ( sq. 10 inches of rain falls on the eastern plains is greater than the Mojave Desert receive. … the Kalahari Desert covers approx 900,000 square kilometres ( 350,000 sq mi ) ( 227,100 km2 ) States Oklahoma! 900 metres or more above sea colorado desert facts Spanish were the first European visitors who arrived Colorado! Area of these Sections is about 87,700 mi2 ( 227,100 km2 ) mud pots and mud volcanoes fume bubble... The Sahara Desert that you will find this web site to be an informative and engaging experience inspire! Like Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, and mesas 's needs! Basin Desert is host to an amazing array of flora and fauna as well as an ever human..., encompassing both rugged mountainous terrain, vast plains, forests,,. Of Interest this web site to be an informative and engaging experience to your... Learn more about its history, geography, people, economy and more sheep are among the most Kalahari... In total length extreme heat and dryness and stays underground during the heat of the word of 's. In Colorado in the Southwestern United States a small part of Joshua Tree National Park lies within Colorado! They are wary of human contact and blend so well into the terrain they inhabit sightings... Kilometres ( 350,000 sq mi ) front of the Colorado River is generally high enough to … Colorado Desert Fun.